News you can use
News you can use
2021 Transmittal Packet March 3rd - March 7th, 2021
Hannah VanHoose, Chief of Staff............................................406.799.0801
Nathan Stein, Communications Director..................................847.420.6800
Megan Harbaugh, Budget & Appropriations Advisor...............406.475.0097
Alice Boyer, Committee & Indian Caucus Advisor....................406.544.9182
Josiah Porcel, Grassroots Organizer .......................................406.927.4126
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Table of Contents
I. Talking Points, Page 3
II. Democratic Policy Packages, Page 5
III. Budget Update, Page 8
IV. Indian Caucus Update, Page 12
V. Grassroots Organizing Update, Page 14
VI. Democrats in the Press, Page 16
VII. Democratic Accomplishments, Page 18
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Talking Points
Toplines
● At the start of this session, Democrats made it clear that our priority was to create jobs and expand opportunity for Montana working families.
● We hit the ground running, rolling out a series of policy packages meant to do just that by lowering health care costs, cutting taxes for Montana working families, strengthening public education, and investing in our broadband infrastructure.
● Meanwhile, in the first half of this legislative session, Republicans have focused their energies into an unprecedented barrage of attacks on the freedoms of Montana’s women and children.
● Democrats have stood tall against these attacks, and remained laser-focused on an agenda that lifts up all Montanans with good-paying jobs. And while Republicans have rejected pieces of this agenda, we will continue to do everything we can to expand opportunity for all who call this state home.
The Republican Agenda
● After a long campaign season talking about jobs, Montana Republicans have let our economic recovery fall by the wayside.
● Instead, they have focused their energies on attacking the freedoms of Montana’s women and children.
● The people of this state demand leadership — they expect us to rise to the challenge of our time and deliver lasting progress. They expect us to deliver opportunity.
● But apparently, Republicans have lost sight of the problems their constituents elected them to solve.
● Democrats will continue to fight attacks on the freedoms of all Montanans, and advance policies that help families in every part of the state thrive.
Democratic Solutions (see Policy Packages section below for more detail) Rural Broadband
● This year has been a stark reminder that the consequences of the digital divide are immense — and Democrats have introduced a package of legislation aimed to close that divide and grow our economy.
● Rural broadband is critical infrastructure and it is as necessary to growing our economy as roads and bridges.
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● Investing in broadband creates jobs, allows small businesses to compete and grow, and increases equity in education for students in every corner of our state. And we know that access to broadband is a game-changer for rural places and Tribal communities.
● Our plan offers a three-point approach to building up our broadband infrastructure:
○ First, we want to make a plan that we can execute on in the long term that goes beyond any single piece of legislation. Every state that has been successful in building out broadband infrastructure has had a plan in place.
○ Second, we want to eliminate barriers that prevent us from meaningfully and efficiently investing in our broadband infrastructure.
○ Third, we want to target investment and make sure that money is spent as effectively as possible to expand our broadband infrastructure.
● This is a comprehensive plan that finally offers a serious approach to creating jobs and bridging the digital divide.
Tax Relief
● Montana working families have struggled this year — and Democrats want to give them a break.
● Our package would have put more money in the pockets of folks who need it — not Montana’s wealthiest.
● We’ve moved property tax relief for middle income Montanans — Republicans said ‘no.’
● We pushed to expand the earned income tax credit, which would amount to a $12 million a year cut for working families — Republicans said ‘no.’
● We advanced an ambitious, but realistic package that invests in the families who need the help, and who are going to in turn spend that money to boost local economies and help small businesses across the state.
● Republicans have so far refused to consider tax relief for Montanans who actually need it, instead looking to blow a hole in our budget to fund hundreds of millions of dollars in giveaways to Montana’s wealthiest.
● Democrats aren’t done. We’ll continue to fight these reckless giveaways, and push for tax policy that lifts up working and middle class Montanans.
Health Care
● We can put more money in the pockets of working families by lowering health care costs.
● Democrats have put forward a slate of bills aimed at doing just that, by capping insulin costs for Montanans with diabetes, increasing transparency around anti-competitive prescription drug company practices, and investing in health care workforce development and the good-paying jobs that come with it.
● Republicans have continued to reject common sense proposals to lower costs for Montanans at every turn, but Democrats will continue to fight to build on the progress we’ve made.
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Democratic Policy Packages
During the first half of the session, House and Senate Democrats worked together to unveil three policy packages focused on helping Montana families and small businesses. This proactive policy agenda highlights the contrast between Democrats, who are working to address the pressing issues facing Montanans right now; and Republicans, who wasted half the session attacking Montanans’ rights and freedoms. Please reference these policy packages as you discuss what Democrats have worked on during the session to date.
I. Health Care
While Republicans focused their energy on cutting $1 billion from the budget for DPHHS (Section B starting point motion), Democrats rolled out three pieces of legislation to create jobs and lower health care costs for Montanans.
a. Strengthen HELPLink so Medicaid recipients can enter the health care workforce - Rep. Mary Caferro
i. The HELPLink program was established alongside Montana’s Medicaid expansion to help recipients find meaningful employment.
ii. Rep. Caferro’s bill helps steer folks into health care careers that have high demand and lower barriers to entry--like CNAs and contact tracers.
b. Cap out of pocket costs for insulin - Rep. Jessica Karjala
i. One in four insulin users have limited or rationed their insulin due to high costs, and people with diabetes experience medical costs more than twice as high as those who don’t have diabetes
ii. Rep. Karjala’s bill would cap copays for insulin at $35, regardless of the amount of type of insulin someone needs.
iii. Colorado enacted similar legislation, making insulin dramatically more affordable for thousands of people and having a negligible impact on insurance premiums.
c. Increase price transparency for non-emergency health care services - Sen. Shane Morigeau
i. Many Montanans have lost trust in our health care system and are caught off guard when they receive a big medical bill in the mail, that’s too late to fix.
ii. Sen. Morigeau’s bill would require medical providers to be transparent with patients up front, and provide the cost for non-emergency services before beginning treatment.
iii. This will ensure that patients have all the information they need to make the best decision about their care, and ensure that providers don’t experience barriers when working to provide immediate and life saving care.
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II. Tax Relief
During a week dominated by Republican efforts to take away rights and pursue unconstitutional legislation (reproductive care, transgender inclusivity), Democrats proposed a package of bills to put money back in working Montanans’ pockets through well-targeted tax relief.
a. Provide property tax relief for homeowners and renters - Sen. Jill Cohenour
i. Low and middle income Montanans end up paying a larger share of their income toward property taxes than those with high incomes.
ii. Sen. Cohenour’s bill would provide an income tax credit to folks whose property tax burden exceeds a certain percentage of their income, to offset high property tax bills and make sure that no one gets taxed out of their home.
iii. This bill came out of the Revenue Interim Committee with bipartisan support.
b. Increase Earned Income Tax Credit - Rep. Emma Kerr-Carpenter
i. The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the most effective anti-poverty program in history, and has lifted millions of children out of poverty.
ii. In 2017, the Legislature passed a refundable state credit on a bipartisan vote. Set at three percent of the federal EITC, it amounted to a $3.50/hour raise for 70,000 Montana families.
iii. Rep. Kerr-Carpenter’s bill would expand Montana’s EITC to 10% of the federal level, putting an additional $10 million back in the pockets of working families.
c. Targeted Social Security Income Tax Exemption - Rep. Dave Fern
i. This session, Republicans brought a bill that made all Social Security income exempt from state income tax.
ii. That bill spent tax relief on wealthy retirees instead of focusing it on folks who depend on their Social Security check to make ends meet.
iii. Instead, Rep. Fern’s bill would focus tax relief on lower income Montanans, without letting wealthy retirees off the hook.
III. Broadband
Republicans are throwing their efforts behind a broadband bill, carried by Sen. Ellsworth, that is nothing more than a giveaway to big telecom corporations for work that they’re already doing. House Democrats, on the other hand, rolled out a package of four bills aimed at reducing barriers to broadband development, opening up access to capital to drive investment, and putting a plan in place to coordinate and sustain a long-term broadband expansion effort.
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a. Creating a State Broadband Manager/Advisory Council - Rep. Katie Sullivan
i. Every state that has successfully expanded its broadband infrastructure has
had a body in place to make a plan, and manage its execution.
ii. That kind of planning structure is missing in Montana.
iii. Rep. Sullivan’s bill would task a State Broadband Manager/Advisory Council with crafting a long term plan to revitalize our broadband infrastructure, and then executing on that vision.
b. Reducing barriers to broadband expansion through “dig once” policies - Rep. Derek Harvey
i. One of the major challenges of building out broadband infrastructure is that it costs a lot of money to dig and lay fiber -- up to 90% of the costs of laying fiber are wrapped up in excavations.
ii. Rep. Harvey’s bill creates a state-level “dig once” policy, which requires the Department of Transportation to give telecom companies the opportunity to concurrently lay fiber during state road construction projects.
iii. This reduces a major barrier to broadband expansion, at very little cost to the state.
c. Allowing municipal broadband development - Rep. Kelly Kortum
i. Across the country, some communities — including a small town of 6,000 people in rural Wyoming — have bought their own local broadband infrastructure.
ii. These municipalities have used their broadband infrastructure to incentivize tech jobs and remote work.
iii. Rep. Kortum’s bill allows for this kind of approach, and gives local communities another option to approach investment in high-speed internet connectivity.
d. Creating revolving loans to fund broadband expansion in underserved areas - Rep. Tyson Running Wolf
i. Broadband developers, whether in the public or private sector, need access to the capital necessary to expand broadband infrastructure, especially in the most rural parts of the state.
ii. Rep. Running Wolf’s bill creates a revolving loan program to open up such funding for high-need broadband projects.
iii. Revolving loan programs have been put to good use by municipalities in Montana and across the state, and offer a good model for smart investment in broadband infrastructure.
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Budget Update
Topline Message
● Democrats are working to create a budget that expands economic opportunity for Montana’s working families through job creation, education opportunities for the 21st century, and access to quality and affordable health care.
● The current budget is far from meeting these goals.
● The Gianforte tax bills are costing about $130 million over the next four years. That’s money that’s going to come out of the general fund, threatening funding for crucial programs that are vital for building a thriving economy.
● Democrats will fight against reckless Republican cuts to critical services that support working families.
● Moving forward, Democrats’ priority is to restore cuts to public health and protect the programs we were able to restore.
General Government (Section A)
Member: Sharon Stewart-Peregoy
The goal of this subcommittee was to hold the line on budget cuts to state agencies and do our best to build back funding for stimulating economic growth and creating jobs that were removed from Governor Gianforte’s budget.
We were successful in:
● Preserving funding for both the Indian Country Economic Development program (ICED) and Montana Indian Language Preservation program (MILP) after a motion to significantly reduce MILP funding was made;
● Reducing vacancy savings at the Department of Administration in the Banking and Financial Institutions Division from 4% to 2%;
● Approving motions to immediately appropriate federal funding for emergency rental assistance and unemployment insurance from CARES Act II.
Moving forward: We will ensure our victories with ICED and MILP remain in the budget and look for opportunities to force the Legislative Audit Division (LAD) to stop vilifying Medicaid recipients and using vulnerable Montanans as an excuse for wasteful government spending.
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Health & Human Services (Section B) Member: Mary Caferro
The primary goals of this subcommittee were to restore the $1 billion in cuts made at the beginning of the session and prevent further cuts to services. While we were able to reverse that devastating starting point motion, at the end of executive action, Republicans on Section B passed several egregious decision packages, including a motion to chip away at continuous eligibility, which in turn undermines Medicaid, a motion to cut both tribal health positions at DPHHS, remove funding for refugee services, and remove all funding for Stars to Quality, which helps early education providers set standards of care across the state.
Most Republicans also voted against a motion to fund the Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) programs in Montana’s schools for one quarter. CSCT is a Medicaid-funded behavioral health service for children with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) and is run as an outpatient service provided by mental health centers under contract with school districts. Historically, CSCT has been funded through federal funds and an in-kind match from school districts. Unfortunately, the department has learned the in-kind match does not meet federal matching standards and they can no longer use this method to fund CSCT.
We were successful in:
● Restoring the $1 billion cut Republicans made to DPHHS at the start of the legislative session;
● Increasing payments to foster care parents by $1.50 per day per child;
● Increasing provider rates by 1% in FY 22 and 2% in FY 23.
Moving forward: We will work to restore and protect Medicaid funding, find a funding solution for the Comprehensive School and Treatment program, and restore cuts to essential jobs at DPHHS, including both tribal health positions.
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Natural Resources & Transportation (Section C)
Member: Jim Keane
The primary goal of the subcommittee was to make sure services are provided by each department in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This section is unique because it mostly deals with federal and state special revenue rather than the general fund.
We were successful in:
● Funding seven permanent FTE to log on federal lands out of the Good Neighbor Authority;
● Establishing funding for conservation districts to run check stations in rural Montana to check for aquatic invasive species;
● Transferring $50 million in federal CARES Act funds to the maintenance account within the Montana Department of Transportation.
Moving forward: We will keep a close eye on the budget as it moves through House Appropriations and ensure funding for these departments remain untouched.
Judicial Branch, Law Enforcement, & Justice (Section D)
Member: Emma Kerr-Carpenter
The goal of this subcommittee was to mitigate cuts and create a more equitable criminal justice system.
We were successful in:
● Preserving funding for rape kits at the Department of Justice;
● Keeping the case manager position in place at the Office of Public Defender;
● Working with other subcommittee members to formulate a plan to force change across the section, but particularly in the Department of Corrections.
Moving forward: We will keep an eye on Section D’s companion bill and ensure funds that had previously been on the chopping block are left alone, and work with allies to secure a judge in Bozeman, caseload growth at the Office of Public Defender, and treatment for Hepatitis C.
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Education (Section E)
Members: Connie Keogh & Jonathan Windy Boy
The goal of this subcommittee was to prevent cuts to public education and add back proposals from Governor Bullock’s budget that create education opportunities for Montanans.
We were successful in:
● Moving the Montana Indian Language Preservation program (MILP) from the Department of Commerce in Section A to the Office of Public Instruction;
● Securing critical funding for Indian American students, including funding for the Tribal Assistance Program to support students taking the High School Equivalency Test, funding the Indian Language Immersion program, and securing funding for the Montana Digital Academy to add eight new Indian language courses to their catalog;
● Reinstating funding for need based aid, including for non-traditional students over the age of 25, the Montana Research and Economic Development Initiative, which provides seed money to research initiatives across the state to help them develop their business and create jobs, and for Newsline, a service that provides subscribers who cannot read printed publications with a wide variety of newspapers, magazines, weather alerts, job listings, and more.
Moving forward: Members will work to protect our wins in the subcommittee.
Long-Range Planning (Section F)
Member: Jim Hamilton
The goal of this subcommittee was to ensure long-range projects were funded fairly and responsibly.
We were successful:
● Increasing funding for Habitat Montana;
● Increasing funding for the Heritage Center;
● Securing funding for the UM Forestry Building and MSU Wool Laboratories.
Moving forward: We will ensure funding for major projects, such as the Forestry Building and Wool Labs, remain in-tact, while pushing to increase projects within the Historical Preservation Grants Program and reinforcing a commitment to invest in reclamation across the state.
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Indian Caucus Update
Montana Indians make up the largest minority population in our state. With that fact comes immense responsibility for the Montana American Indian Caucus (MAIC) to fight for the rights of marginalized people. As such, one of our goals this session is to effectively mobilize our caucus, our allies and Montana tribal nations/individuals around bills that will help Montana Natives and against those that seek to do harm to Native interests and wellbeing.
This session has been tough for everyone and that is no different for the MAIC. However, while there have been struggles, thanks to our aforementioned goal, there have also been some notable and invigorating wins by the Indian Caucus that we’re proud to share and carry forward with us into the second half of the session.
A continued area of legislation important to the Indian Caucus is addressing the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People (MMIW/MMIP) epidemic in our state. This session, Rep. Peregoy brought HB 34, 35, and 98, which work with Sen. Small’s SB 4 to continue and expand upon previous session’s work on the MMIP problem. With these bills passed, Tribal Nations and Native people across Montana will have access to more funding and resources to protect, save, and find our people.
Education and language preservation also continue to be strong areas of progress for the Indian Caucus. Rep. Running Wolf introduced HB 403, which creates a “grow your own” teacher grant program to help train and retain well-qualified teachers in rural Montana, including reservations. Rep. Windy Boy led an effort to save funding for the Montana Indian Language Program, and move the program from the Department of Commerce to the Office of Public Instruction, where it will be more stable.
We have also celebrated great wins, like defeating two notably bad bills, HB 241 and SB 138. HB 241 would have allowed non-tribal members to hunt on fee land within reservation boundaries without approval from the tribe, and SB 138 would have removed the tax exempt status for tribal fee land waiting to be approved as trust land. Both of these bills threatened to trample on tribal sovereignty and would have opened the door for further infringement on tribal rights in the future.
Looking to the second half of the session, the Indian Caucus will focus on restoring the two tribe-focused positions in the Department of Health and Human Services that have been cut from the budget. Additionally, we will continue to fight against bills that threaten tribal rights like HB 302, which requires county approval to relocate bison. And finally, we will fight voter suppression bills that will disproportionately affect the Native population in this state.
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Indian Caucus Bills of Interest
Support
● HB 34 - Revise statutes to reflect federal recognition of Little Shell tribe - Rep. Smith
● HB 35 - Establish a missing persons review commission - Rep. Stewart Peregoy
● HB 36 - Establish missing persons response team training grant program - Rep. Stewart Peregoy
● HB 98 - Extending the Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force and the LINC grant program - Rep. Stewart Peregoy
● HB 311 - Generally revise bison laws - Rep. Weatherwax
● HB 312 - Generally revise bison laws - Rep. Weatherwax
● HB 392 - Generally revise language immersion laws - Rep. Windy Boy
● HB 403 - Create "grow your own" teacher grant program - Rep. Running Wolf
● HB 487 - Make Indian language education an allowable TANF work activity - Rep. Running Wolf
● HB 552 - Establish Montana racial justice act - Rep. Stafman
● HB 613 - Generally revise laws related to tribal voting - Rep. Stewart Peregoy
● HJ 12 - Resolution that white supremacist neo-nazi violence is domestic terrorism - Rep. Dunwell
● SB 4 - Extend the Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force - Sen. Small
● SB 26 - Clarify use of tribal agreements for livestock producers within reservations - Sen. Gillespie
● SB 27 - Allow multiplier reimbursement for loss of livestock - Sen. Gillespie
● SB 47 - Generally revise laws related to DOC commits - Sen. Lynch
● SB 94 - Establishing Indigenous People's Day - Sen. Webber
● SB 146 - Establish Indigenous People's Day - Sen. Morigeau
● SB 236 - Provide transparency in health care pricing - Sen. Morigeau
Oppose
● HB 176 - Close late voter registration on Friday before the election - Rep. Greef
● HB 200 - Establish laws prohibiting sanctuary cities in Montana - Rep. Holmlund
● HB 241 - Revise hunting laws related to tribal boundaries - Rep. Read
● HB 302 - Require county approval to relocate bison - Rep. Kassmier
● HB 318 - Clarify definition of bison - Rep. Holmlund
● HB 406 - Revise absentee and mail ballot laws - Rep. Noland
● HB 455 - Generally revise election laws related to absentee ballots - Rep. Sheldon-Galloway
● SB 138 - Repeal temporary tribal property tax exemption - Sen. Hertz
● SB 169 - Generally revise voter ID laws - Sen. Cuffe
● SB 196 - Generally revise polling place hours laws - Sen. McGillvray
● SB 371 - Repeal CSKT water rights compact - Sen. Keenan
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Grassroots Organizing Update
Caucus staff have worked to recruit validators from across the state to provide testimony in support of Democratic bills, and in opposition to bad bills from Republicans. Staff have also recruited writers for letters to the editor to support caucus priorities.
Testimony at Key Hearings
COVID-19 rules panel - Nurses and doctors from Yellowstone County voiced concerns over the lack of safety protocols in the Capitol, putting the greater public at risk. Business owners in Cascade County testified that an outbreak on their staff would result in profit loss that can lead to them closing their doors. Working people from across the state voiced their concerns over getting sick from session spread, and putting their families at risk.
HB 121: undermines local boards of health during a time of emergency or disaster - A business owner from Ravalli County testified against HB 121 because of fear that undermining public health officials would lead to business closures, job losses, and deaths. One of Cascade County's commissioners discussed how elected commissions already have sufficient oversight over health boards. Working folks from every corner of MT voiced their concerns over how this bill would affect their safety.
HB 209: would have given rapists greater ability to assert parental rights - Folks from Gallatin County, including constituents in Rep. Gillette’s district, vocally opposed this bill. Due to this pressure, Rep. Gillette rewrote her bill to remove the problematic sections, proving the importance of constituent mobilization around terrible bills.
HB 221: allows campaign contributions to be used for candidate childcare - Former municipal candidates in Yellowstone County testified in support of allowing campaign contributions to be used for candidate childcare. A councilwoman from Billings gave public comment on how allowing candidate contributions to go towards child care would help expand the pool of those willing to run for office. The bill garnered bipartisan support out of committee and has passed the House floor.
HB 494: enacting a "dig once" policy for broadband expansion - A telecom provider from Lewis & Clark County gave quality public comment on HB 494, and was excited about how “dig once” would help cut red tape and expand internet access.
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SB 65: limits the liability of premise owners and health care providers - Working Montanans from Yellowstone and Cascade County gave oppositional testimony on SB 65 because it would leave their families vulnerable from businesses who are not taking COVID-19 seriously.
Letters to the Editor
HB 345: requiring transparency in “pay for delay” agreements on prescription drugs - Montanans age 55+ wrote letters to the editor in support of HB 345, which would force drug companies to compete and drive prescription drug prices down for all Montanans. Working folks communicated the need to hold big drug companies accountable and put more money back into the pockets of working Montanans.
HB 228: creates a paid family leave program - Business owners from Park and Liberty Counties wrote in support of establishing a paid family leave program in Montana. They described their support for this additional employee benefit as a way of assisting employees in a time of crisis. The letters communicated that small businesses compete with larger companies by allowing them to attract and retain quality employees.
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Democrats in the Press
Below, you will find highlights from the numerous stories we have secured in the Montana press during the first half of the session. These stories highlight the policy achievements and messaging wins that the Democratic Caucus has achieved since the 67th Legislature gaveled in.
Broadband Rollout
NBC Montana: Dems roll out plan to create jobs through broadband infrastructure development Lee News: Montana Democrats tout bills to expand rural broadband
Tax Policy Rollout
MTN: MT Dems proposing bigger tax cuts for low-income homeowners
MTPR: Democrats Propose Tax Breaks For Low- And Middle-Income Montanans
Daily Montanan: Montana Dems roll out 3 bills to cut taxes
Montana Right Now: Montana Democrats announce policies to address rising property taxes, provide tax cut for working families
Health Care Rollout
NBC Montana: Democratic leaders unveil legislation to create jobs
Daily Montanan: Montana Dems tout three healthcare bills
Montana Right Now: Montana Democrats hold press conference to announce new legislation
Session Priorities Rollout
Daily Montanan: Legislative Dems announce 2021 policy goals
MTPR: Montana Democrats Announce Their Priorities For 2021 Legislative Session
State of the State Rebuttal
Lee News: Democrats lay out priorities in rebuttal to Gianforte
Daily Montanan: Gianforte outlines priorities in ‘Montana Comeback’ speech
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LGBTQ+ Rights
MTN: MT House rejects bill on transgender youth treatment
Daily Montanan: Bill banning gender affirming care for youth dies in House
Lee News: Coalition against anti-trans legislation grows as House Bill 112 moves through judiciary committee
Paid Family Leave
YPR: Montana Bill Aims To Create State Run System To Fund Family, Medical Leave Missoula Current: Democratic legislators take third run at paid family leave in Montana Daily Montanan: Bill would provide statewide family, medical leave
YPR: Montana Bill Aims To Create State Run System To Fund Family, Medical Leave Missoula Current: Democratic legislators take third run at paid family leave in Montana Daily Montanan: Bill would provide statewide family, medical leave
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Democratic Accomplishments
I. Key Wins
The bills below represent the good legislation that Democrats have successfully passed so far this session. We have a lot to be proud of.
Advocating for Montana’s Workforce
● HB 81 - Generally revise laws on administration of MPERA retirement systems - Jim Hamilton
● HB 198 - Revise workers’ compensation death benefit laws - Derek Harvey
● HB 199 - Revise workers compensation laws relating to information and reopening of claims - Derek Harvey
● HB 213 - Revise apprenticeship rules - Jim Keane
● HB 289 - Generally revise labor laws relating to employee associations - Derek Harvey
Advocating for Survivors
● HB 164 - Revise temporary automatic domestic relations orders - Connie Keogh
● HB 310 - Generally revise sexual assault reporting laws - Alice Buckley
● HB 520 - Generally revise laws related to sexual assault - Marilyn Marler
Criminal Justice Reform
● HB 91 - Revise violent offender registry laws - Robert Farris-Olsen
● HB 92 - Establish compensation program for wrongfully convicted individuals - Kathy Kelker
● HB 478 - Generally revise DUI laws - Derek Harvey
● HB 451 - Generally revise time served requirements - Robert Farris-Olsen
Expanding Access to Healthcare
● HB 295 - Allow licensed clinical social workers and therapists to treat chronic pain - Mary Caferro
● HB 299 - Revise insurance requirements for diabetes self-management education - Mary Ann Dunwell
● HB 210 - Provide for licensure of speech-language pathology and audiology assistants - Moffie Funk
● HB 275 - Establish uses of medicaid waiver funds - Mary Caferro
● HB 276 - Put peer support specialists on the board of behavioral health - Mary Caferro
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● HB 291 - Requiring coverage of amplification devices, services for kids with hearing loss - Moffie Funk
● HB 378 - Create a mini-COBRA law for small employer health insurance plans - Mark Thane
● HB 495 - Revise laws related to health care providers - Mary Caferro
● HB 614 - Revise the HELP Link program - Mary Caferro
● HJ 4 - Study criminal proceedings and commitment of people with mental illness - Mary Caferro
Expanding Economic Opportunity
● HB 81 - Generally revise laws on administration of MPERA retirement systems - Jim Hamilton
● HB 221 - Allow campaign contributions to be used for candidate childcare - Alice Buckley
● HB 440 - Generally revise winery regulatory laws - Willis Curdy
● HB 306 - Revise transportation laws relating to tourism - Moffie Funk
● HB 494 - Revise transportation construction law - Derek Harvey
Increasing Government Efficiencies
● HB 58 - Extend Bond Validation Act - Jessica Karjala
● HB 96 - Align organ donor awareness fund with administering agency - Donavon Hawk
● HB 100 - Revise community college audit requirements - Denise Hayman
● HB 103 - Revise cooperative laws to provide for remote participation - Willis Curdy
● HB 141 - Generally revising vehicle and vessel title transfer laws - Connie Keogh
● HB 319 - Revise dates for special purpose elections - Alice Buckley
● HB 437 - Repeal the board of research and commercialization technology - Jim Keane
● HB 580 - Revising laws related to political committees - Tyson Running Wolf
Investing in Indian Country
● HB 34 - Revise statutes to reflect federal recognition of Little Shell tribe - Frank Smith
● HB 35 - Establish a missing persons review commission - Sharon Stewart-Peregoy
● HB 36 - Establish missing persons response team training grant program - Sharon
Stewart-Peregoy
● HB 98 - Extending the Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force and the LINC grant program - Sharon Stewart-Peregoy
Investing in Public Education
● HB 26 - Clarify the definition of pupil - Moffie Funk
● HB 328 - Provide guidelines for assessing language development in deaf children - Connie Keogh
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Honoring Veterans and Supporting Law Enforcement
● HB 469 - Allow emergency funds to be used for the Emergency Management Assistance Compact - Sara Novak
● HB 487 - Make Indian language education an allowable TANF work activity - Jonathan Windy Boy
● HB 491 - Revise access to military discharge records - Moffie Funk
● HB 600 - Private sector hiring preference protection for spouses of military members - Mary Caferro
● HB 604 - Revise compensation of deputy sheriffs - Sara Novak
● HB 610 - Establish the Terry Spotted Wolf, Sr. memorial highway - Rynalea Whiteman Pena
● HJ 21 - Urge designation of state funeral for lsat WWII medal of honor recipient - Laurie Bishop
Preserving Natural Resources
● HJ 6 - Provide for study of natural resources trust fund - Dave Fern
● HJ 15 - Resolution to recognize benefits of connected trail networks across Montana - Marilyn Marler
● HJ 17 - Declare noxious weed awareness week - Marilyn Marler
● HB 147 - Establish the Montana hunters and anglers community fund - Tom France
Protecting Rights to Privacy
● HB 479 - Revise laws related to third party data privacy - Katie Sullivan
II. Bad Bills - Good Kills
The bills below represent the bad legislation advanced by Republicans that Democrats defeated, demonstrating our commitment to--and success in--defending the interests of working Montanans.
Attacks on Education
● HB 371 - Revise qualifications to serve as superintendent of public instruction - David Bedey
● HB 465 - Limit school district superintendent salaries - Scot Kerns
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Changes to Government
● HB 106 - Prohibit expansion of the Montana clean indoor air act - Ron Marshall
● HB 132 - Require property tax bill to include comparison to prior year - Fred Anderson
● HB 278 - Repeal naming and labeling provisions regarding political committee - Brandon Ler
● HB 489 - Require interim committees to review and recommend repeal of certain laws - Scot Kerns
● HB 570 - Prohibit infringement of constitutional right to nullify certain fed legislation - Derek Skees
● HB 573 - Expand roll of PSC to oversee the operation of internet tech companies - Brad Tshida
● HJ 13 - Resolution for Article V US constitutional convention of states - Neil Duram Discriminatory Bills
● HB 113 - Provide for youth health protection - John Fuller
● HB 241 - Revise hunting laws related to tribal boundaries - Joe Read
● HB 339 - Require child support cooperation for food stamp eligibility - Frank Flemming
Elections
● HB 107 - Revise mill levy election laws - Ron Marshall
● HB 342 - Revise judicial election laws - Matt Regier
● HB 355 - Require partisan elections for state, district, local judges - Scot Kerns
● HB 455 - Generally revise election laws related to absentee ballots - Lola
Sheldon-Galloway
Health Care & Wellbeing
● HB 332 - Revise school laws related to vaccinations - Ed Hill
● HB 356 - Prohibit anonymous reporting of child abuse and neglect cases - Dennis Lenz
● HB 485 - Establish reporting requirements for Medicaid/CHIP quality measures - Jane Gillette
● HB 515 - Generally revise laws relating to child and family services - Jeremy Trebas
● HB 575 - Prohibit school programming that may transmit infectious agents - Derek Skees
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Natural Resources
● HB 245 - Revising electricity supply resource procurement approval - Larry Brewster
● HB 314 - Require PSC to consider economic impact of coal plant closure - Braxton Mitchell
● HB 442 - Provide for ratemaking mechanisms - Derek Skees
Response to COVID-19
● HB 145 - Allow local boards of health and health officers to issue recommendations - Paul Fielder
Taxes & Fees
● HB 149 - Allow certain card transaction fees - Vince Ricci
● HB 162 - Eliminate state tax on social security income - Paul Fielder
● HB 240 - Revise state income tax deduction for certain dependents - Brad Tschida
● HB 372 - Eliminate business equipment tax - Brandon Ler
Workers’ Rights
● HB 251 - Implement right-to-work - Caleb Hinkle
● HB 323 - Generally revise pension laws - Terry Moore
III. Good Bills - Bad Kills
The bills below represent the good legislation proposed by Democrats that Republicans defeated--but that would have passed under a Democratic majority. This is a strong example of everything Democrats tried to do in the face of Republican obstruction.
● HB 17 - Allow alternative energy system tax credit to be refunded - Jim Hamilton
● HB 25 - Clarify funding for education of children in residential treatment - Moffie Funk
● HB 27 - Authorize school districts to create “handle with care” programs - Moffie Funk
● HB 109 - Provide for primary enforcement of seatbelt laws - Frank Smith
● HB 110 - Revising laws related to obstruction of a peace officer or public servant - Danny Tenenbaum
● HB 126 - Revise laws concerning conduct of persons with alcoholism and drug addiction - Kathy Kelker
● HB 147 - Establish the Montana hunters and anglers community fund - Tom France
● HB 154 - Revise resort tax population limits - Dave Fern
● HB 161 - Revise calculation of capital gains tax credit - Jim Hamilton
● HB 187 - Provide for local option sales tax - Dave Fern
● HB 190 - Revise tax rate for golf courses - Danny Tenenbaum
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● HB 216 - Allow Medicaid reimbursement for license outdoor behavioral programs - Connie Keogh
● HB222- Establish limits on cost-sharing for insulin - Jessica Karjala
● HB227- Establish student mental health screening pilot program - Mary Ann Dunwell
● HB228- Establish family medical leave insurance - Moffie Funk
● HB239- Lower disability threshold for certain fee waivers to 80% - Moffie Funk
● HB262- Expand exemptions from collections to include student loans - Rob Farris-Olsen
● HB 265 - Phase out use of styrofoam in food-related businesses - Marilyn Marler
● HB 284 - Provide living wage - Mary Ann Dunwell
● HB 286 - Revise laws related to the Montana digital academy - Jonathan Windy Boy
● HB 287 - Provide that state pays postage for absentee ballot return - Kelly Kortum
● HB 297 - Revise laws related to nursing and health care workers - Mary Caferro
● HB 311/312 - Generally revise bison laws - Marvin Weatherwax
● HB 315 - Implement 988 suicide prevention lifeline - Mary Ann Dunwell
● HB 324 - Generally revise certain labeling laws - Frank Smith
● HB 345 - Establish Prescription Drug Pay-for-Delay Transparency Act - Katie Sullivan
● HB 348 - Generally revise film tax credit laws - Jim Keane
● HB 390 - Generally revise laws related to agricultural equipment repair - Katie Sullivan
● HB 392 - Generally revise language immersion laws - Jonathan Windy Boy
● HB 409 - Provide tax credit for purchase of a firearm safe - Andrea Olsen
● HB 414 - Require public utilities to report a plan for 100% renewable - Andrea Olsen
● HB 422 - Authorize municipalities to operate broadband utilities - Kelly Kortum
● HB 424 - Revise individual income tax laws - Emma Kerr-Carpenter
● HB 486 - Providing an increase in minimum wage - Kelly Kortum
● HB 508 - Establish cap on insulin cost-sharing requirements - Willis Curdy
● HB 523/524 - Review laws related to snare traps on public lands - Tom France
● HB 533 - Revise laws related to how security deposits are paid to landlords - Emma Kerr-Carpenter
● HB 545 - Establish public transportation commission to study passenger transportation - Andrea Olsen
● HB 552 - Establish Montana racial justice act - Ed Stafman
● HB 557 - Revise missing person laws - Jonathan Windy Boy
● HB 581 - Revise gun storage laws - Robert Farris-Olsen
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